Matthew Percefull
In America, not many things have been as historically popular as Hollywood movies and professional sports. So, it’s no surprise that there have been plenty of movies based on various sports. The most popular sports when it comes to film are usually baseball, boxing, and American football. This makes sense, that these sports are full of drama and have long storied histories. There is one sport that has been neglected cinematically: basketball. Many attempts at capturing the sport don’t do a good enough job of portraying the sport of basketball. This list will highlight five basketball films that buck this trend. Each of these five highlights a different aspect of the sport through our favorite art form.
Hoop Dreams (1994)
For many, basketball, like all sports, is just a fun pastime—a game to watch or play with friends. At most, they lose a few dollars from a failed parlay on a sports betting app. However, some of these players’ futures fully rely on this game. Being the sole documentary on the list, Hoop Dreams is the most grounded film on this list. It doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to how these athletes are treated at the high school level. We follow two high school students, Arthur Agee and William Gates, as they attempt to achieve the dream of playing in the NBA.
Hoop Dreams transcends the format of documentary. It is a sprawling coming-of-age tale that just happens to be taking place right outside of our walls. The film offers a true slice of life, the type of life that the film industry doesn’t seem to like highlighting: Impoverished black youth. Hoop Dreams is as much a piece of journalism as it is a piece of filmmaking. It shows the power of community and the hope that personal connection can provide. Throughout everything we see these families go through, they never lose faith in a better tomorrow. More importantly, they never lose faith in each other. Unfortunately, this hope for the future put an insurmountable pressure on these young boys. They began to see their love for basketball as “the way out”.
An interesting figure in Hoop Dreams is William’s brother, Curtis Gates. At one point in time, Curtis was in a very similar situation to his brother. He was a highly sought-after high school star who even earned a college scholarship with his talents. He was unable to handle the pressures and eventually dropped out of school altogether. This personal disappointment led to Curtis living vicariously through Williams’ success. Curtis holds his brother to a high standard, not out of jealousy but with a sense of pride. He knows that William may be his family’s last shot at stability, a reality that he was unable to provide despite his best efforts. Unfortunately, in 2001, Curtis was shot and killed. Curtis’ tragic fate highlights the pressure that these athletes are under.
The story of Agee and Gates isn’t necessarily a unique one. In your town, there are probably a pair of young basketball hopefuls working day in and day out for a shot at something better. The regularity of this story is what makes it so important. We never see this part of the story. We never see the players who don’t make it to the league. We don’t see the parents in the background silently sacrificing everything for their child’s dream. All we get to see are the Isiah Thomases of the world, living in luxury. We mistake that for the norm when that is incredibly rare. There’s a particular quote from William Gates in Hoop Dreams that sticks with me. “That’s why when somebody says, “when you get to the NBA, don’t forget about me”, and that stuff. Well, I should’ve said to them, “if I don’t make it, don’t you forget about me.”
He Got Game (1998)
Spike Lee is as synonymous with basketball as he is with the film industry. From directing the iconic Air Jordan commercials to becoming a fixture at Knicks games, he is a beloved cultural figure in the world of basketball. It’s only right that in 2001; he finally made a Hollywood feature centered around his passion. He brings on previous collaborator Denzel Washington and NBA player Ray Allen to star in He Got Game. The film is about the college recruitment process and how dehumanizing it can be for young athletes. It also featured a memorable father-son narrative and some of Spike Lee’s most creative filmmaking.
Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen) is a star in the making. It’s not just coaches and college scouts that see it, he’s treated a little differently by just about everyone around him. When his father, Jake (Denzel Washington), suddenly reappears after spending 15 years locked up, both men are forced to face the darkest parts of themselves. See, Jake isn’t returning to reconnect with his son. He’s only doing it for a chance at freedom. Jesus instantly clocks these ulterior motives, but can’t help from entertaining this relationship with his father. This all culminates in a dramatic one-on-one between father and son.
As far as I’m concerned, this is the definitive basketball film. It lovingly captures the sport while not being afraid to critique the culture that surrounds it. The on-court action is phenomenal, but it’s the father-son dynamic that brings it together. Their scenes are all perfectly tense and full of chemistry. The iconic 1v1 in the third act is the culmination of this. Spike Lee is a craftsman, and that scene is a huge display of that. Both men are playing for their own best interest, but they also have something to prove to each other. The intense game of basketball gave them the closure of a conversation they were both afraid to have.
Denzel Washington is one of the most charismatic actors to ever grace the screen. His performance as Jake Shuttlesworth is more evidence of this claim. He is a very gray area character that the audience is with the whole way. Spike Lee has a way of bringing out the best in Denzel. Denzel has a certain level of vulnerability with Spike that he doesn’t always show with other directors. Even if you aren’t a basketball fan, this is worth a watch for this legendary collaboration alone.
Above The Rim (1994)
Above The Rim is a bit of an unconventional sports flick. It has more in common with 90’s hood classics like Boys In The Hood than it does anything else on this list. That being said, I think this film captures an important aspect of basketball culture that tends to be ignored cinematically, streetball. While we are usually familiar with the professional and college levels, there are so many unreal talents playing right now that will never see a professional court. Above The Rim tells the story of an intercity basketball prospect who gets himself mixed up in the underbelly of his community. Starring Tupac Shakur and Duane Martin, Above The Rim originally received mixed to negative reviews. Over time, the films reputation has changed for the better and is now pretty well regarded among both sports and movie fans alike.
The film is about Kyle Watkins (Duane Martin), a high school basketball player with aspirations to play for Georgetown on a full-ride scholarship. While he waits for his application results, he participates in a summer street tournament. He is torn between playing for his old coach, Mike Rollins (David Bailey), and a local drug dealer, Birdie (Tupac Shakur). As the tournament heats up, Kyle realizes just how brutal and potentially deadly this version of the sport can be,
Above The Rims biggest strength is its all-star cast. Duane Martin is sturdy as our lead and fills the role with enough charm to be likeable. Tupac Shakur is an amazing screen presence and killed every role in his tragically short filmography. He’s fascinating here as the main antagonist and steals every scene he’s in. Bernie Mac is here in an incredibly important role and does well with some emotional depth. Marlon Wayans mainly acts as comedic relief but gets some big moments in the third act. This varied cast of characters is able to keep the film feeling lively, even in the more formulaic segments.
It’s by no means a perfect film. It’s cliche in spots and can be melodramatic in others. Despite these complaints Above The Rim is still one of the seminal basketball films ever made. It reached a generation of basketball fans that could relate to what these characters were going through. Not many of us can be Michael Jordan or Lebron James but I bet that you’ve probably known at least one Kyle Watkins in your life. The realistic tone and great performances cement Above The Rim as a cult classic.
Love & Basketball (2000)
Romance and sports movies don’t usually mix. Sure, plenty of iconic sports films have featured romantic interests but they’re not often the driving force of the narrative; but when they are it usually leans too far into sentimentality. Gina Prince-Bythewood found the perfect balance with her debut feature Love & Basketball. The film contains both a riveting love story, a scathing critique on women’s sports in the 90’s and some of the best fictional basketball ever seen. Love & Basketball can sometimes be pigeonholed as just another teen romance film, but it has much more to offer.
Love & Basketball is told in four quarters, each representing a different phase in the lives of our main characters. The narrative spans more than two decades and really allows us to see the true nature of the relationship. Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (Omar Epps) are both extremely promising basketball players. They formed a natural rivalry as children that follows them to high school. This rivalry evolves into an intense attraction between the two. As they get older, their differing career prospects led to a divide between them, leading to a dramatic third act confrontation.
Women’s basketball was in a weird place in the 90’s. Now in 2025 there are superstars like Caitlyn Clark and Angel Reese that are bolstering women’s basketball to an unseen level of popularity. But in 1993 when Monica Wright is ready to go pro there was no WNBA to speak of. Her only real option was to play overseas for little pay and even less fanfare. Meanwhile Quincy plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, on the biggest stage in all of basketball. This was the harsh reality for women basketball players until recently. There was no lack of great athletes, they just had nowhere to go after college. Love & Basketball does a phenomenal job at conveying just how good Monica is, helping the audience understand the frustration.
The on-the-court action is so good because writer-director Gina Prince Bythewood insisted on casting only actors who could also play ball. When actress Sanaa Lathan nailed the script read but couldn’t dribble properly, Blythewood sent the actress to a six-month training camp with a WNBA coach. This act alone shows just how dedicated the filmmakers behind this were to properly conveying basketball. This feels like you’re watching a real game at times. The immersion in both the basketball and the characters makes Love & Basketball one of the best basketball films.
Hustle (2022)
There are films on this list that tackle the recruitment process, but none of them do it from the perspective of the recruiter. Directed by Jeremiah Zagar and starring Adam Sandler, Hustle tells the story of an NBA scout who takes an unproven but talented young player under his wing. It’s an effective drama with some great comedic levity mixed in. It’s a great modern sports film that enhances the subgenres tropes rather than blindly following them.
While basketball is a form of entertainment, the NBA is also a business. Hustle shows the frustration that comes along with working in this industry. Adam Sandler plays Stanley Sugarman, a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers. He finds himself at a crossroads as he begins to lose passion for the sport he once loved. Sandler brilliantly portrays a man who followed his dreams but has major regrets in how. Sandler is obviously known for his comedy, but he’s consistently amazing in roles like this. It still allows for him to crack jokes just at a more grounded level.
The off-court drama isn’t the only appeal. The basketball scenes are enthralling and excitingly shot. The handheld, shakier style fits really well with the intensity of the sport. Hustle takes a similar route as Love & Basketball by casting real basketball players for the on-court roles. NBA player Juancho Hernangomez is cast as Bo Cruz, a streetball player from Spain that is recruited by Stanley. Casting a less recognizable but still reputable player was a genius choice. Hernangomez is reliably solid in the dialogue scenes, but he is magic on the court. It’s like his charisma goes up ten levels when he steps on the court, which is great for the characterization. Hustle also features notable NBA players such as Anthony Edwards and Kenny Smith who do a great job in limited roles. The involvement from real NBA professionals give Hustle a uniquely realistic feel that sports films can lack.
Basketball has a historically complicated culture, and that’s the beauty of it. it is as much an art as it is a sport. These five films are a gateway into that world. From a wildly prescient documentary to an Adam Sandler vehicle, basketball films can work on any end of the court.
